Roll Towards Wellness: Unveiling Skateboarding’s Health Secrets

Skaters harp on the need for individuals to engage in skateboarding as it can be used as a tool to improve physical well-being.

According to the skaters, skating is crucial, as it can be used as a form of exercise to promote the health and physical wellness of an individual.

They made the call at the event to mark the 2025 World Go Skateboarding Day in Abuja, at the Monoliza Centre, on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 5th edition of the Abuja Go Skateboarding Day was organised by Go Skate Nigeria (GSN).

Mr Lukman Abdulrahman, Founder of Go Skate Nigeria, said that skateboarding can be used as a tool to promote health and wellness.

Skateboarding is a physical sport. You do not have contact with people, but you have contact with everything else around you.

“It helps you to be determined and build resilience as a person, especially in a country we find ourselves in. We need resilience to survive or thrive.

“Skating is a very taxing sport, and it takes a lot of discipline to be a skateboarder. When you skate for 30 minutes, you will sweat so much and burn lots of calories.

“Skating also helps with your heartbeat. It helps your blood circulate faster in the body and reduces the risk of high blood pressure,” Abdulrahman said.

He also said that there is a need for youth involvement in skating because it helps to bring people of different kinds together.

“Everyone here comes from a different background, whether it is class or race. Skating creates a community, togetherness, and also helps to create a sociable environment.

Aside from her sports like soccer or tennis, which are very team-based, skating creates a different kind of harmony.

“Skating is individual-based, where everyone has their style,” Abdulrahman said.

Speaking in the same vein, one of the organisers, Mr Giles Omulabi, said that the event helps to promote positive change in Nigeria by fostering a safe space for everyone.

“We are creating awareness by fostering a safe space for every citizen. Everyone is welcome and accepted, even if we do not know each other.

“No one is going through issues on their own because we help ourselves the best way we can, and we are always there for each other.

“It’s a safe space for all of us. So having events like this just helps everyone be themselves and also have fun,” Omulabi said.

Mr Somto Nzeribe, Design Lead for Go Skate Board Nigeria, said that skateboarding helps to bridge cultural divides and promote international understanding amongst Nigerians and the international communitTherehere are people of all races here. It’s not about where you are from or what you do. It’s just about knowing how to skate.

“You could feel that community; it is a special bond among people, and it is beautiful to see. But building the international divide is a growing culture.

Over time, I believe that the skate community would expand and collaborate more with international organizations,” Nzeribe said.

Furthermore, Mr Jelly Salihr, a skater, said skateboarding has impacted his life and wellbeing positively.

“I love skating because it has impacted my mental health most positively. Whenever I feel sad or alone, I just skate.

“I also love the fact that there are so many people skating and showing interest in the game,” he said.

Also, Mr Mololuwa Adeniyi said that the best part about skating for him is getting in contact with people of different kinds.

“The best part about skateboarding for me has been meeting people who are so different, but they all share a common goal,” he said.

NAN reports that Skateboarding Day is celebrated annually to promote skateboarding, international relations, and encourage participation. (NAN).